Everest Base Camp for beginners

Everest Base Camp for beginners

Successful completion of your bucket list program needs some research. This article helps novice trekkers to reach successfully to Everest Base Camp which is located at the elevation of 5,350 meter above sea level. The basic facts you have to know to achieve your dream trip will likely be covered as you go through this. As name suggest, the camp located in the base of the Everest is Everest Base Camp. Everest Base Camp is the place from where the expedition to the top of the Everest starts. The great view of Everest is achieved from Kalapathhar, just before the base camp and above the last tea houses of the area called Gorakshep. Going to Everest base camp is challenging both emotionally and physically. Everybody with normal physical condition and without serious health issues can successfully complete the trip; the pace might vary little bit with individuals. The Everest is visible immediately after completing the very first day of the trek. Different look, size and perspective make an Everest a charming mountain. The trip also gives a great view of many other peaks and whole Everest range. The factors beginners need to consider are listed below.

Go slow and listen to your body

As every individual has their own pace of walking, the distance covered will be varied. As you are walking in the higher elevation going slowly and taking sufficient acclimatization time is the crucial factor for the successful completion of Everest Base Camp trek. You have to listen to your body if you feel exhausted just take a rest. If you do not feel well you just need to stop for a day. Continuing going up even you are not feeling good you are putting yourself in risk. Our itineraries are well researched and designed for successful completion. Coming down is much faster than going up and much safer and easier too.

Bring only what you need

Don’t stuff unnecessary things in your bag. Bring the things which are essential and the remaining things you can store in Kathmandu. As you are taking a domestic flight they have a weight limit of 15 kg. Per passenger and as every two trekkers there will be one porter you have to consider ideal weight. 30 to 35 kilo plus his own small bag for the porter is ideal weight to reach Everest Base Camp. Choose quality light weight gears and complete set of essential gears.

Pack energy bars and chocolate rolls

As you go higher there will be limited choice and the price hikes for any type of light snacks so if you have extra space or extra weight limit pack with energy bars. There are lots of supermarkets in Kathmandu. In Lukla and Namche also you can get wide choice for these to buy but the price will be higher than in Kathmandu.

Prepare to smell

As you go higher, hot water is scarce and not reliable so be prepared to smell. In an altitude a hot shower means about 15 liters of Luke warm water supplied to you by paying few dollars. Either you soak a light towel and wipe everywhere you deserve or you try to soak some part of your body with that water. Baby wipes are really helpful. Some carry deodorant too. Some of the mountain trails are smelly with horse and donkey puff.

Bring worn in shoes

Only the person who does trekking in the high mountain knows how worse the blisters could be. If you bring brand new hiking shoes you are more likely to form blisters so worn in shoes are much better and bring sufficient amount of Band-Aid with medicines.

Training for Everest Base Camp Trek

Lot of people they don’t do any training before heading for Everest Base Camp Trek but some aerobic exercise, running, jogging and cycling few months before you start the trip is greatly appreciated. Running on a treadmill, take a hike during week end walking on the stairs instead of taking lifts, go shopping walking instead of taking a car makes you fit to go for the trek. Even swimming helps you prepare for this world famous hike.

Prepare for flight cancellation

To reach Lukla for the small planes mostly twin-utters and Dornier’s the weather need to be enough good. Once you book the trip you have already given a consent that you are placing your life in hands of weather god and skills of pilots. If the weather is not very good the flight get cancelled which result in waiting and try for the next day, take a jeep drive in a really rough road to the nearest point and walk some extra days or pay extra and catch a sharing helicopter or even divert your trip to another destination basically to Annapurna Base Camp, prepare for any of the conditions above and if the weather is bad after finishing the trip you might wait for another day and give a try to fly out.

Avoid fair weather trekking companies

As the companies fight over customers and they lure hikers in with the lowest price when you need their help in the mountains they are not able to help as they don’t have money. Look for companies who are genuine and reliable and listen to you. Check the most transparent companies as trekking is a big business everybody need to survive and they must have a profit. You are paying very low price that does not mean they don’t have profit they will cut all the corners in your service.

Don’t afraid to book the trip for low seasons

As many people are hiking in only high seasons, the trail and facilities are overcrowded, sometime even people are waiting to cross the suspension bridges, wait long for the meals and waiting in the check post are very common. If you avoid the main season these type of problem are easily overcome. Besides, walking in the low season gives you a sensation that you are discovering a new trail every day. You find very less people on the way and on the lodges where you sleep. The facilities remain cleaner and the choices are also wide.

Having Travel insurance is good idea

As Everest Base Camp is the popular trek, rescue facilities are available if it is covered by your insurance policy. As flight by helicopters is expensive, they need to be guaranteed that somebody is certainly paying for the helicopter. Either you are paying, or your agency paying or your insurance company paying for the helicopter, until somebody guarantees the payments the helicopters are not flying. The best way is to avoid becoming sick. Our motto is successful completion of your dream trip.

You can check our Everest Base Camp trek itinerary which is a product of our fifteen years of experience operating the trip in the Everest area.

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